A Colossal Own Goal? US Climate Exit Casts Shadow Over 2026 World Cup and LA28

In a move that has sent shockwaves through the international community, the United States has officially initiated its withdrawal from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and more than 60 other global organisations. On 7 January 2026, a Presidential Memorandum directed the withdrawal, citing that these entities are “contrary to the interests of the United States”. While the administration frames this as a pursuit of national sovereignty, the sporting world is left grappling with the implications for upcoming mega-events: the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the LA28 Olympic Games.